Baculovirus expression of chimeric hepatitis B virus core particles with hepatitis E virus epitopes and their use in a hepatitis E immunoassay.

Two hepatitis B core proteins bearing the immunodominant region of the hepatitis E virus (HEV) capsid protein, one at the C terminus of hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBcAg) and the other within the HBcAg immunodominant loop, were constructed. Both chimeric proteins exhibited HEV reactivity, but only the first construct retained HBcAg reactivity. The second construct was used to develop an anti-HEV test which is equivalent to a commercial test for the detection of anti-HEV immunoglobulin G (IgG) but is more sensitive for the detection of anti-HEV IgM.

Outbreak of enterically-transmitted hepatitis due to hepatitis A and hepatitis E viruses.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: One hundred and eleven patients with acute hepatitis and 61 controls were investigated for hepatitis serological markers in order to determine the viral etiology of cases involved in a waterborne epidemic of hepatitis observed in 1993 in Djibouti, Republic of Djibouti (East Africa). These cases occurred both in indigenous Djiboutians, and in French soldiers and their families in Djibouti. A retrospective study of the viral etiology of acute hepatitis cases observed in French soldiers and relatives living in Djibouti during the 3-year period preceding the epidemic was also undertaken. METHODS: HAV, HBV and HCV infections were investigated using commercial ELISA tests. HEV infections were investigated by testing IgG and IgM-specific antibodies by means of three different ELISA tests using recombinant proteins or synthetic peptides. RESULTS: Hepatitis A was observed in 37 (33%) and hepatitis E in 43 (39%) of the 111 cases of acute hepatitis recorded during this epidemic. Hepatitis B represented only 6% of the indigenous cases and hepatitis C was not observed among the cases investigated. Anti-HEV IgG antibodies were also detected in 19% of the indigenous control group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that both HAV and HEV were responsible for this waterborne epidemic of acute hepatitis. However, HAV and HEV infections were not equally distributed between French expatriates and Djibouti residents. Whereas HAV infections were mainly observed in French patients, HEV was almost exclusively found in indigenous patients. This study reports for the first time a waterborne outbreak of acute hepatitis simultaneously due to HAV and HEV.

Detection by PCR of human papillomavirus genotypes in cervical lesions of Senegalese women.

In order to analyse human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in the Senegalese population, HPV DNA was sought in 65 women with evidence of cervical cytological abnormality and in 72 pregnant women. Ninety-four percent of the patients were positive for HPV DNA as compared to 24% of pregnant women. HPV 16 was detected in cervical smears in 42% of cases, HPV 18 in 39%, HPV 6 in 26%, HPV 11 in 15%, HPV 45 in 10%, HPV 52 in 3%, and HPV 31, HPV 33 and HPV 68 in 1.5%. HPV 16 and HPV 18 were detected in 16% and 7% respectively of pregnant women. HPV DNA of unknown type was detected in 6% of cases, and multiple HPV infections were observed in 28% of cases. Low risk genital HPVs (6/11) were detected in smaller proportions (17%) among high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) than the low grade SILs (43%). High risk HPVs (16/18) were detected in high proportions both in low and high grade SIL lesions, though the highest frequency (70%) was observed among patients with high grade lesions. In conclusion, the results confirm that HPV infections are frequent in Senegal and that HPV 18 and 45 are detected in a high proportion of patients in Africa.

Detection of antibodies against human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 virions by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using recombinant HPV 16 L1 capsids produced by recombinant baculovirus.

The L1 major capsid protein of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) was expressed in Sf-21 insect cells with a recombinant baculovirus. Virus-like particles obtained were purified and used to develop an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of anti-HPV-16 antibodies in sera from 76 women with evidence of genital HPV infection and 79 controls. HPV-16-infected individuals developed antibodies directed at HPV-16 virions since reactivity against recombinant HPV-16L1 capsids was observed in 50% of them compared with only 6% in the general adult population. However, some cross-reactivities with sera from women infected with others HPV types were observed.

Etiology of acute sporadic hepatitis in adults in Senegal and Tunisia.

Markers for acute hepatitis A, B, C and E virus infections were examined in the sera of 72 patients suffering from acute hepatitis in Senegal and Tunisia. Hepatitis B was responsible for 36% and hepatitis C for 21% of the cases. Acute hepatitis A was not diagnosed. HEV infection was not observed in Senegal and represents only 4% of the acute hepatitis cases in Tunisia.